Connecticut

Meets 12 of 12 core policy standards in this category:

1. State requires physician’s written instructions to be on file to dispense prescription medication to students.
2. State policy ensures students’ right to self-carry and self-administer prescribed asthma medication.
3. State policy ensures students’ right to self-carry and self-administer prescribed anaphylaxis medication.
4. State policies or procedures shield school personnel from liability for unintended injuries.
5. State requires local school districts to create asthma and anaphylaxis medication policy and provides resources, guidelines and parameters.
6. State policy mandates schools to identify and maintain records for students with chronic conditions including asthma and anaphylaxis.
7. State requires a procedure updating health records periodically.
8. State requires that schools maintain asthma/allergy incident reports for reactions, attacks and medications administered.
9. State requires a student health history form that includes asthma/allergy information to be maintained for each student.
10. State requires schools to have emergency protocols for asthma.
11. State requires schools to have emergency protocols for anaphylaxis.
12. Nurse-to-student ratio is 1:750 or better.

Meets three of six extra credit indicators in this category:

A. State requires anaphylaxis medicine – epinephrine – stocking and authority to administer in schools.
B. State allows and/or requires asthma quick-relief medicine – albuterol – stocking and authority to administer in schools.
C. State has or is preparing an explicit asthma program with policies, procedures and resources for schools to manage students with asthma.
D. State has or is preparing an explicit anaphylaxis program with policies, procedures and resources for schools to manage students with allergies.
E. State has adopted policy that each school will have one full-time nurse.
F. State has adopted policy that school districts provide case management for students with chronic health conditions such as asthma.

Meets both core policy standards in this category:

13. State recognizes problem of asthma in schools and has begun to address it.
14. State recognizes problem of allergy in schools and has begun to address it.

Meets both extra credit indicators in this category:

G. State sponsors or provides funding for staff training in asthma awareness covering school asthma program/policy and procedures.
H. State sponsors or provides funding for staff training in food allergies.

Meets nine of nine core policy standards in this category:

15. State has mandated that all schools must have indoor air quality (IAQ) management policies.
16. State has adopted a policy requiring that districts and schools conduct periodic inspections of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system & other items important in asthma/allergy management.
17. State has IAQ policies that include specific components important in asthma/allergy management (HVAC, HEPA, carpeting, pesticide use).
18. State recommends/requires that districts or schools use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques OR ban use of pesticides inside school.
19. State requires schools to notify parents of upcoming pesticide applications.
20. State limits school bus idling time and establishes proximity restrictions.
21. All smoking is prohibited in school buildings and on school grounds.
22. All smoking is prohibited on school buses and at school-related functions.
23. Tobacco-use prevention is required in health education curriculum.

Meets four of five extra credit indicators in this category:

I. State makes funding or resources available for technical IAQ assistance to schools.
J. State recommends standards and programs to promote environmentally preferable materials for school construction, maintenance and cleaning.
K. State requires school facility design standards that include low emission construction materials, pollutant source controls, durable and easy to clean surfaces and floors, moisture/mold controls.
L. State has implemented or actively promotes diesel school bus engine retrofitting program.
M. State requires districts or schools to provide tobacco-use-cessation services to students.

None

Medication Policy: The State Department of Education requires schools, before and after-school and school readiness programs to maintain an individual medication administration record for students who receive medications during school or program hours. The state also allows paraprofessionals to administer medications to students in the case of an emergency, if approved by the school board. A bill proposed in 2013 but not passed in Connecticut would have required children to have a health assessment prior to public school enrollment including a check box to indicate an asthma diagnosis.

Indoor Environmental Policy: Connecticut regulations set forth building construction standards for schools that include strategies to prevent mold. CT regulations also require schools to implement a “green cleaning program” and set forth building construction standards for schools that include strategies to prevent mold.

Epinephrine in Schools: A 2014 law P.A. 14-176, An Act Concerning the Storage and Administration of Epinephrine at Public Schools requires schools to maintain a stock of epinephrine and authorizes school nurses and other qualified employees to administer epinephrine. The Connecticut Department of Education issued regulations to implement the law:Administration of Medications by School Personnel and Administration of Medication During Before- and After-School Programs and School Readiness Programs.

Awareness Policies: Signed into law on June 14, 2018, Connecticut Public Act 18-185, An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study Life-Threatening Food Allergies in School established a committee to examine the food allergy policies in Connecticut public schools. It includes provisions requiring the Department of Education to update its guidelines for managing students with food allergies and glycogen storage disease and to update school health education guidelines to address food allergies; and extends food allergy training and Good Samaritan liability protections to school bus drivers.

State Education Agency Website

State Legislature Website